Geezer Butler on Joining Deadland Ritual, Playing Club Shows Again

by Erica Banas

Geezer Butler spent about 18 months officially retired before he joined Deadland Ritual, a new band featuring Guns N’ Roses/The Cult/Velvet Revolver drummer Matt Sorum, Billy Idol guitarist Steve Stevens and Apocalyptica singer Franky Perez. Getting him out of retirement was rather easy, too.Butler spoke to Billboardrecently about the new band, and after being sent a couple of songs, he sat down with Sorum, Stevens and Perez at his favorite vegan restaurant and just talked.“And the end of it, they all say, ‘We want you to join the band. Do You want to join?’ And I says, ‘Yeah.’”If that seemed almost too easy of an ask, Butler then added, “After 18 months of retirement, I would have said yes to anything! After Sabbath finished, I just wanted to take time off and wake up every day and think, 'Oh, great, I've got nothing to do today.' That was okay for a year. After I put on about 20 pounds and watched every TV show there was I just went nuts.”The fact the interview didn’t include a list of Butler’s favorite showed he binged watched during that time seems like a lost opportunity, but I digress.Perhaps the strangest thing about being in a new band for Butler is essentially starting all over and playing clubs again. Deadland Ritual will play their first show on May 28 at The Troubadour in Los Angeles. “I've never played there,” said Butler. “I think I've been there once or twice years ago. It's like starting from scratch; I haven't done clubs since 1970. I've done the odd one here and there, but not a whole tour of clubs. Or fifth on the festival bills.”Deadland Ritual’s first single “Down In Flames” can be heard below.